Tench Fishing Rigs and Tackle - Landing My First of the Season
My first tench session of the year didn't exactly go to plan, but it's a perfect story of why persistence so often pays off in fishing. In this post we'll have a look at tench fishing rigs and tackle during this short dusk session last Saturday. It was cold, a bit miserable, and the conditions didn't fill me with much confidence for some early spring tench fishing. True to form, the bites were not forthcoming.
I kept busy, recasting my method feeder every 20-30 minutes to try and build a swim and get something going. After about three hours, just as the light began to fade, the rod tip finally pulled round! I struck into what felt like a decent fish, but it immediately kited through a patch of lily pads. In the blink of an eye, it was gone. A lost fish. Devastating! After waiting all that time, I knew that was likely my only chance, and I'd messed it up.
The Redemption Session
The next morning, I was awake early before the rest of the family. That lost fish was on my mind, and I knew I had to go back to settle the score. I sneaked out of bed and head back to the bank. It was cold again, probably too cold for tench, but that single bite from the evening before was all the encouragement I needed. I had to have another go.
Sticking With The Method
Once again, it was hard work. Despite the chilly conditions, I kept plugging away, staying patient and trusting the method - probably one of my favourite tench fishing rigs. After a few blank hours, I decided to reel in and admit defeat. However, as I retrieved the feeder, I saw a couple of flat spots appear on the surface where my rig had been. I’d clearly spooked fish that were sitting right over my bait!
Success at Last
Just five minutes after that final cast, the rod hooped round and I was into a nice tench. The pads came into play again, but this time I was using slightly stronger tackle after the previous evening's disaster. The battle was tense but short, and the fish was soon safely in the net! The first tench of spring is always a special moment, and this one was no different. It wasn’t a flying start to the season, but we’re officially off and running.
The Gear That Got The Job Done
For a session like this, keeping it simple and effective is key. Tench fishing rigs can sometimes be made too complicated. The plan was to lay down a bed of pellets using a method feeder to get the fish grubbing around. Here is the key tackle and bait I used:
Feeders: Korum Camo Method Feeders
Hooklink: Korum 4” 10lb Hooklink
Hooks: Size 12 Specimen Hooks
Bait: Sonubaits 6mm Scalded Spicy Sausage Pellets & 8mm Pellet-Os
Fishing Tips
Build the Swim: When bites are slow, keep casting. Recasting a method feeder every 20-30 minutes helps build a concentrated area of bait that can attract and hold fish.
Watch for Signs: Before packing up, watch the water as you reel in. If you see flat spots or fizzing, it means fish were on your spot. Get a rig straight back out there!
Adjust Your Tackle: After losing a fish in snags (like lily pads), don't be afraid to step up your gear. A stronger hooklink or mainline can be the difference between landing and losing the next fish.
Don't Discount an Early Start: Even when it’s cold, an early morning session can be productive. That bite the evening before told me fish were in the area, so it was worth getting back for dawn.
So, even though it didn’t quite go to plan, persistence got me a result in the end - as it so often does in angling. For more stories like this, check out our full blog archive.
I hope you all had a great long weekend and managed to get out on the bank yourselves!
Watch The Video
This session wasn't recorded, however I have probably created over a dozen videos where you can see me fishing for tench and I would recommend watching this one before checking out my full tench fishing playlist on YouTube